There has been an escalating trend of South Korean students abandoning their teacher-training colleges due to progressively unfavorable working conditions, static wages, and dwindling career outlooks. According to the Korea Educational Development Institute, the student attrition rate in education colleges reached a record high of 4.2% last year, a rate that has remained constant since the preceding year.
Data from the Ministry of Education indicates that this issue is prevalent even among top-tier institutions. Both Seoul National University of Education and Gyeongin National University of Education experienced over 100 students opting out of their programs, in spite of these institutions being renowned for producing elementary school teachers.
The dropout rate among students in education universities has seen a gradual increase over the years. In 2018, the dropout rate was less than 1%, which increased to 1.5% in 2019 and 1.7% in 2020, rose to 2.4% in 2021 and 3.2% in 2022, and eventually leveled at approximately 4% in 2023 and 2024.
Surveys suggest that the key factors contributing to this trend are the diminishing authority of teachers and increased parental pressure. A poll conducted by the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Unions in May, involving 8,254 teachers across elementary, middle, and high schools, showed that 58% considered transferring or resigning within a year. Of these, a whopping 77.5% cited excessive parental complaints as the primary reason.
A different survey by the Korea Federation of Teachers’ Associations revealed that only 19.7% would pursue teaching again given the opportunity. This is the lowest percentage since the poll’s inception in 2012.
Experts attribute this disillusionment to more challenging classroom environments, heightened emotional labor, and relatively mediocre salaries, especially in comparison with major corporations. Furthermore, there is a deficiency in safeguards for teachers’ authority.
The spotlight on this issue intensified following a tragic incident in 2023 at Seoul’s Seoi Elementary School, where a young teacher took her own life reportedly due to mounting parental pressure. A similar case occurred on Jeju Island this year involving a teacher who allegedly faced ceaseless complaints prior to her death.
The future prospects for teaching jobs are also becoming less promising. Along with the dwindling school-age population resulting from the low birthrate, the teacher certification exam increasingly fails to guarantee employment, thereby further dissuading potential educators.
What factors are contributing to the increasing dropout rate among South Korean education university students?
Several factors are contributing to this trend, including worsening working conditions, stagnant wages, diminishing teacher authority, and escalating parental pressure.
How is this dropout trend affecting even the leading education universities?
Despite the prestigious status of institutions like Seoul National University of Education and Gyeongin National University of Education, they have not been spared from this trend. Both universities have seen over 100 students leaving their programs.
Are the job prospects for teachers in South Korea getting worse?
Yes, job prospects are declining for teachers in South Korea. This is largely due to the decreasing school-age population resulting from the low birthrate, which makes the teacher certification exam less effective in securing employment.
